Adjustable hand rake



Dec. 5, 1950 F W, WELLS 2,532,526 ADJUSTABLE HAND RAKE Filed Sept. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DSC' 5 1950 F. w. WELLS 2,532,526

ADJUSTABLE HAND RAKE Filed Sepr.. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TA1-VN I /c ,//6

Fi 6 BY frm/ Patented Dec. 5, 1:95()

`UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE HAND BAKE Frank W. Wells, Pasadena, Calif. Application September 5, 194'?, Serial No. '772,318 7 claims. (ci. ssc- 4001er This invention relates to a garden tool, and particularly pertains to an adjustable hand rake.

In the use of a hand rake in gardening, it often occurs that the spread of the rake is greater than the space between shrubs and the lilge within which space the rake is to be used, and furthermore, it is often desirable to utilize the teeth of a rake in digging and scratching the soil to a greater depth than is contemplated when using a rake with spring teeth. Such objects may be accomplished by providing a rake having a plurality of tines which are carried by a head structure and which may be spread outwardly in fan shape when raking a wide area, or may be swung towards each other to reduce the effective width of the rake and to give it" additional rigidity when operating in a relatively narrow area or when it is desired to dig deeply in the soil. Heretofore, rakes of this general type have been provided but inmost instances they have been unsatisfactory due to the fact that when the tines are spread outwardly in fan fashion the tooth line of the rake is arcuate and convexed, so that the rake tends to dig along its center section while the opposite outer edges will be held out of contact with the ground. Furthermore, some rakes of this type do not hold the tines in rigid set position. In order to provide a satisfactoryrake of this general character it is desirable to design a rake head which carries a plurality of rake tines, the structure being manipulated to swing thetines toward and away from each other while maintaining the tooth line of the tines in a substantially straight line. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a hand rake having a rigid handle and 'carrying a head at one end thereof, said head affording a mounting for a plurality of rake tines articulately associated with the head and with each other and capable of being moved laterally toward and away from each other in a manner to insure that the outer toothed ends of the tines will lie along a substantially straight line irrespective of the degree to which the tines are separated from each other.

Ijhe present invention contemplates the provision of a rigid rake handle carrying a rigid rake head at onel end thereof, said head being designed to receive one end of a plurality of rake tines, the opposite ends of said tines being bent to form rake teeth, the head being tted with means whereby the tines may have relative lateral movement'with relation to each other andmay move longitudinally in a manner to maintain the toothedends of the tines in line, the structure also including 4aligning-bars which may be manipu- Liu' . 2 Y lated to shift the tines while adjusting th tive width of the rake.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation showing one form of the rake with which the present invention is' concerned and indicating the tines in their con-. tracted relationship.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the e effecrake with thetines spread to increase the relative Width of the rake.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section and elevation as seen on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and shows the construction of the rake head and the manner in which the center tine and operating barv are mounted.

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged fragmentary View showingl the operating sleeve on the handle and indicating the connection for the operating bar and the manner in which the sleeve is tensioned.

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation showing another form of rake head with part of the handle broken away, said head being in a contracted position.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation similar to Fig..5

-f but showing the rake head in its spread position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation showing the form of the rake tooth at .the end of one of the rake tines. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in eleva-i 'l tion showing the operating sleeve and the latchV means therefor.

o Fig.- 9 is an enlargedview in transverse section through the handle and operating sleeve as seen on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 andx2; of the drawings, IG indicates a rigid rake handle,y at one end of which a rake head I I is mounted.; The base portion of the head comprises a pain of plates I2 and I3 which are shown as beingV substantially in .the shape of equilateral tri--v angles. The plate I3 rests directly against the: face of the handle IS and is formed with perforations I4 thro-ugh which bolts I5 may extend to secure the plate to the handle. The plates I2 and i3 are spaced from each other a distance` substantially representing the thickness of rakef tines I6, the ends of which are disposed between the plates.. The plates are held together by al series of staples I'Iwhich are driven through the cold plate steel and are clinched. These staples are here shown as being disposed parallel to each other adjacent to the opposite inclined edges of. the plates and are spaced a distance from each,l other to permit relative swinging movement of the `tines izwithout producing a binding actionil at the inner end of the tine ISP.

between the tines as they operate. At the outer corners of the plate I3 are perforations I8, one of which is disposed at each corner to accommodate pivoted tines |61. Attention is directed to the fact that the tines I6p are the only tines which are mounted upon the head l I upon fixed pivots. Extending directly between the plates I2 and I3 along the longitudinal center line of the rake is an operating bar I9 which lies flat on the upper face of the handle Ill and is guided by staples 2G through which it extends and by which it may be directed in longitudinal movement. The end portion of the member I9 which extends beyond the apex of the head I terminates in a tine I3C which is the center tine of the rake. The tine Itc and the operating bar I9 move longitudinally and in no other direction. The tines I6 which are intermediate the center tine I6c and the pivoted tines ISP are designed to swing laterally and to move longitudinally as controlled by the cooperative action of the tines I6c and 15P. This action is brought about by actuating bars 2l which are `formed with a plurality of` perforations 22. A row of these perforations extends the length of each of the bars. The. perforations are each circumscribed by a protruding lip 23. The bars 2I are made in duplicate. However, the protruding lips on the two bars are reversed for the purpose of assembly, which will be hereinafter explained.

The actuating bars 2I are disposed with their innermost ends 2 I overlapping on the longitudinal center line of the rake. This places the innermost end perforations 22 in register so that the tine IGC may pass through the two perforations and thus act to pivotally connect the twoactuating bars 2l. The tine IGC has an oiset portion 24 which is produced by a bend 25 designed t0 extend through the overlapping perforations 22 of the actuating bars 2I, and a reverse bend 26 at the opposite end of the oiset length 24 which occurs beyond the actuating bars. By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be seen thatthe operating bar I9 and the main length ofthe tine Iiic lie in a common plane, and that the oiset portion 24 lies in a planev parallel thereto. The distance between the two planes represents .the thickness of the actuating bar and its lips. The outerV pivoted tines |61 are formed at one end with a bend portion 2l which extends outwardly through one of the perforatons I8 in the plate I3. Thisbend is formed Each of the tines of the rake are formed with offset portions 24, as previously described. The oset portion 24 of the tine I6p permits thefbend 26 to pass through the perforation 22 at the end of each of the actuating bars 2 I, after which the main length of the tine extends forwardly in the plane of the rake head whichV is occupied by all of the tines. Attention is directed to the fact that the offset portions of the tines are arranged so that the bends 25 and 26 on contiguous tines alternately extend through the perforations 22 of the actuating bars 2l. This causes the tines to remain in a desired position with relation to the actuating bars, and also insures that when the actuating bars are adjusted angularly by the operating member I9 the bars will be shifted simultaneously and will at the same time positively move all of the tines toward or away from eachother as defined by the angular geometrical arrangement of the actuating bars 2 I, the pivoted tines IEP, and the center tine Iiic. The operating v bar 19, which is a continuation of the center tine various tines I6, I6c and IGP are assembled with.

4 IBC, provides the necessary movement for the actuating bars 2l. By reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the operating bar i9 has an oifset portion 28 which passes over the edge of a tubular operating sleeve 29. The operating sleeve 29 is mounted upon the handle I0 and can be moved longitudinally thereof. The portion 28 of the operating bar I9 is bent at its outer end to form, an extension 3G. The extension 33 passes through an opening 3l in the sleeve 29. This extension is flexed and formed with a permanent set so that it will create friction against the handle 3B and tend to hold it in any desired position longitudinally of the rake handle Il). In addition to the gripping action of the portion 30 the sleeve 25 may be set at different points in its longitudinal path of travel. This is accomplished by a lock pin 32 which extends transversely through the rake handle Il) and has a portion 33 projecting beyond the cylindricalsurface of the handle. The extension 33 is designed to t within a groove 34. This groove,

is formed longitudinally of the sleeve 29 and has a plurality of lateral grooves or slots 35 leading from one side thereof so that a locking structure will be provided which has the function of a multiple bayonet lock. The lateral slots 35 are inclined at an angle to the longitudinal groove 34 and are directed away from the head of the rake. Due to this arrangement the tension in the rake structure will act to hold the lock member 33 in a selected slot 35 since the tension of the rake structure is such as to tend to move the operating bar I9 longitudinally of the rake handle Ill vand away from the rake head I3. It is to be understood that since the wall of the sleeve 29 is protruded to form the longitudinal groove 30 and the lateral grooves or slots 35 these grooves will be covered by the wall so that the lock member -33 will not encounter the hand of the operator when the sleeve 29 is grasped.

In the drawings two forms of the present invention are disclosed. One form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, has a head structure II formed by two plates I2 and I3 which are triangular inshape.- The other form is shown in Figa-5 and 6 of the drawing, where a head` structure II is provided and is made of plates I2' and I3. These plates are substantially diamond-shaped. Due to the geometrical arrangement of the plates shown in the head I I' in which the angle between the sides of the plates is less than in Figs. l and 3 it is possible to cause the tines to be drawn closer together when they are in parallel relation since the transverse spacing of the attached inner ends of the tines is less than that in Figs. 1 and S. makes it possible for the rigidity of the rake to be increased so that the raking teeth at theend of the tines can be used in earth-working operations. It is preferable that the tines on the head II" shall be of heavier gauge material than the tines on the head of the rake II, and thatthe ends of these tines shall be curved at right angles to form a rigid tooth or blade-35. It will be evident from examining Fig. 5 of the drawing that when the type of tine is used as shown inl Fig. 7, the collective action of the tine blades 36 willbe Substantially the same as that of a hoe.

In assembling the rakes of the type or" which the present invention is concerned, the plates I2 and I3, or I2 and I3', are made, and are formed with perforations I8 at their corners to receive the bent end portions 21 of the tines IGP. The

This

the actuating bars 2| and 22 and placed in a jig so that they will be properly held betweenl the plates I2 and I3, or I2 and I3.l A`stapling machine will then drive cold steel staples through the two plates of the head and at equal spaced intervals along the edges between which the tines project. These staples areindicated at I'I the drawings and are parallel to eachother. Y It will be seen that they provide a space between contiguous staples into which the inner ends of the tines I6 and IIc may project. This makes it possible for the tines to have longitudinal movef ment as well as pivotal action with relation to each other and the head while the tines are being moved to their spread or contracted positions. Prior to the time the staples I'I are driven through the plates and clenched the bolts I5 are placed in position so that the structure maybe fastened to the handle Ill. When the staples are driven through the plates and clenched it is intended that the operating bar I9, which is a continuation of the tine |60, shall extend entirely betweenthe plates of the head so that it may project along the side of the rake handle I9 and can be positioned slidably by the staples II. It will be understood that the sleeve 29 will be articulately mounted at the outer end of the operating bar I9 so that it will be properly positioned upon the rake handle I9 with relation to the lock pin 32. When the rake is thus assembled the operating sleeve 29 may be moved along the sleeve and toward the rake head, and in so doing will move the operating bar I9 in the direction of the arrow a, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The bend portion 25 of the tine I6c will thus pull thewends of the actuating bars 2| in the same direction,

and this movement will cause the opposite ends of theactuating bars 2| to swing the outer tines I6p in the direction of the arrows b, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Since these tines are pivoted by means of the perforations I8 and the bend portions 21, which are formed at the ends of the tines IISp and extend into the perforations, the tines IGP must swing around fixed pivots. At this same time the tines I6 will be articulately disposed at their inner ends between the plates of the rake head and will be free to move longitudinally and to swing as determined by the actuating bars 2|. When the operating bar I9 has been moved outwardly to the limit of its stroke the various tines of the rake head will have been swung inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that at this time the opposite angular edges of the rake head I I and the actuating bars 2| are in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other. When the sleeve 29 is moved in a counter-direction from that indicated by the,

arrow a in Fig. 2 the inner ends of the actuating bars 2| will be drawntoward the apex of the rake head and this will causethe actuating bars 2| to shift longitudinally as controlled by the pivoted tines IEP. The intermediate tines I6 will adapt themselves in proper angular relation to each other as well as with the center tine I6c and the pivoted tines IEP. Thus the tines will be spread apart a desired distance. When the tines are adjusted the sleeve 29 is rotated in the direction of the arrow c, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. VThis movement is attained by flexing the operating rod I9 and will at the same time move the locking Velement 33 along one of the lateral slots 35 and into the longitudinal groove 34. The Vsleeve 29 may then be moved longitudinally as desired, and when released will exert tension tending to rotate the sleeve in a counterdirection to the arrow c, and tending to hold the locking element-33 in the bottom of one of the lateral grooves 35.

The operation of the structure shown in Figs. 6 and'l is brought about in the manner previously described. 'A y It should be pointed out that since the pivotal points of the tines ISP are iixed pivots and are in fixed spaced relation to the outer ends of the actuating bars 2| the bars 2| will be held rigidly when the sleeve 29 is disposed in a desired set position. Furthermore, since each of the tines I6 has a fixed point of pivot with the actuating bars 2| these tines will remain in uniform spaced relation` to Veach other irrespective of the angular adjustment of the actuating bars with relation to the edges of the rake head. This structure not only causes the tines I6 to assume desired spaced relationship but also insures that the tines will be held in an angular set position without possibility of moving toward and away from each other when the sleeve 29 is set.

n It should also be pointed out that due to the` bodily movement of the tines together with their pivotal movement the ends of the tines will `be disposed upon a substantially straight line normal to the longitudinal axis of the rake handle irrespective of the degree of angular adjustment of the tines with relation to each other.

It will thus be seen that the rake structure here disclosed is simple and inexpensive in construction, may be easily assembled without the use of accurate and complicated machinery, and that the rake may be easily manipulated to dispose the tines of the rake at a desired spread and to hold them in that position with the toothed ends of the tines disposed along a substantially straight operating line.

While I have shown the preferred formof my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in com-v 7 from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable rake comprising a handle, a rigid head xed at one end of the handle and symmetrically disposed with relation to the 10ngitudinal axis of the handle, a pair of actuating bars pivotally connected together at their inner ends and extending oppositely along the end face of the rake head, said pivotal connection being at a point along the longitudinal center plane of the rake handle, means articulately connecting the opposite outer ends of the actuating bars to the rake head adjacent its opposite ends whereby said ends of the actuating bars will be held in spaced relation to the ends of the rake head permitting the actuating bars to move in the plane of the rake head, an operating bar associated with the pivotal connection between the actuating bars and being held for longitudinal reciprocating movement relative to the rake head and its handle, a plurality of rake tines pivotally connected to the actuating bars at points spaced equally throughout the length of the actuating bars-and at points intermediate the length of the tines, and individual articulate connections between the inner ends of said tines and the outer edge of the rake head and at spaced intervals throughout the length of the rake head whereby longitudinal movement of the operating bar when varyingv lthe angular" relationship ofv the actuating bars with the rake head will cause the tines to'move lbodily with relationto each other in assuming a contracted or spread position and while the working ends of the tines are at all times maintained in a plane normal 170 the longitudinal axis of the handle.

2. An adjustable rake comprising-a handle, a rigid rake head'formed'with two forward angular edges symmetrically arranged at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the rake, an operating bar mountedA to reciprocate longitudinallyof the rake handle and the head, Aa pair of oppositely extending actuating bars pivotally associated with each other'at their innerends and pivotall'y associated with the operating bar, said bars lying in the plane of the rake head, pivotal connections between the outer ends 'of said actuating bars and the outer Vends of the angular 'faces of the rake head whereby the outer ends of the actuating bars may be heldin spaced pivotal relation to the rake head and may be free to swing in the plane of the rake head aslimited by said pivotal connections, a plurality of rake tines pivotally secured to the actuating bars in equal spaced relation to each other along said bars and at points intermediate the ends of the tines, and a plurality of equally spaced guide members carried by the rake head and between which the inner ends of said tines extend for swinging and longitudinal movement whereby when the operating bar is moved longitudinally of the rake handle and the angular relation of the actuating bars is changed with relation to the forward edges of the rake head the tines will be moved toward and away from each other while the working ends of the tines will be maintained in va substantially straight line normal to the longitudinal axis of the rake handle.

3. An adjustable rake comprising a handle, a rigid head structure secured at one end thereof, the forward edge of said head structure denning an equilatera-l triangle, the altitude of which is Vcoincident to the longitudinal axis of the rake handle, an operating bar disposed longitudinally of saidhandle and centrally of the rake head, means for holding said operating bar with relation to the rakehandle whereby the bar may reciprocate longitudinally thereof, a rake cent'ertine formed as a continuation of the operating bar and extending forwardly of the apex of the rake head, a pair of actuating bars, the inner ends of which are pivotally connected with the operating bar at a point in spaced relation to the apex of the rake head and in substantially the plane thereof, the length of said actuating bars extending along and in spaced relation to the triangular sides of the rake head, pivotal connections between the rake head at substantially theouter ends of its triangular sides and free ends of the actuating bars whereby the free ends ofthe actuating bars will move in the plane of the rake head as the pivoted ends of the actuating bars are moved back and forth by the operating member, a rake tine carried by each of said pivotal means and extending forwardly of the actuatingbars in the same plane with the center tine, va plurality of rake tines interposed between the center tine and each of the pivoted tines, a pivotal connection between each of said tines and the actuating bars in fixed spaced relation to each other and at points intermediate the ends "of the tines, and guide means equally spaced along the forward edges of said rake head toreeene die-inner end-stream `pivoted tines whereby relative movementof the actuating bars with re` lation-tothe edges of the rake head will cause the said inner `tine ends to move with relation to the guideV means as the'tines bodily shift and ro tate upon their pivotal axis 'whereby the working ends of the 'tines will be maintained in a straight plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the haidle;

4; An adjustable rake comprising a handle, a headattached to one end of the 'handle formed by twoflat plates secured in spaced relation to each other, a plurality of tines disposed between said'plates and lying in a common plane, pivotal connectionsfbetween the outermost tines and the heady/hereby said tines-may swing in said com-- men plane, -a guide means carried centrally of the rake head vfor'receiving a center tine whereby said tine may reciprocate along the longitudinal axisofthe rake'handle, an operating bar slidably mounted upon the rake handle and at the end of which said center tine is formed, a-plurality or" guide and-spacing means on'the Vhead intermediate the pivoted Vtines and the reciprocating tineforreceiving the inner ends of intermediate-tineswherebysaidtines may `swing in tliecominonfplane lof the rake-'and may move longitudinally, and a pair oi actuating bars piv-A otally connected to each other and the center tine at their inner ends and pivotally connected to the pivoted tines at their outer ends, the said intermediate tines being pivotally connected'to the actuating bars at uniform spaced relation to each other between the center kand the pivoted tines, whereby reciprocation of the operating bar and the'center tine will simultaneously move all of the tines and'cause them to assume equal spaced relation to `each other while 'maintaining the working ends of the tines in a substantially straightv line normal to the longitudinal axis of the rake handle.

5. The structure of claim 4 including va grip mounted upon the rake handle and connected to the operatingbar whereby the bar may be Ireciprecated relative 4to the handle.

5; Ihe'structure of claim l including a gripmounted upon'the rake handle and connectedvto the operating barwhereby thebar may be recip` rocated relative-to the handle, and friction means acting between the grip and the rake handle to temporarily 'hold'the grip ina set position.

'7. The structure of' claimfll including `a grip mounted upon the rake handle and connected to theoperatin'g b'ar whereby the bar 'may `be'reciprocated relative `to the handle, and cooperating means betwe'en'the grip andthe handle whereby the gripmay be temporarily set in desired adjusted positions along the handle.

FRANK W. WELLS.

'REFEREN CES CITED The.followingreferences are of recordin vthe iile vof this patent:

UNITED 1 STATES PATENTS 

